this has all happened before

in fact,ruta maya open poetry mike opened

because SOMA(the upscale restaurant next door

had precipitately (without warning)closed their doors

(where one closes,another opens..

For years,RM@4th/Lavaca became the new Chicago House

until high rents forced a sale and move to 3601 south congress

which @that time was woods and bottle shops

Now,they are faced with financial exigencies

and must make monies to stay in that spot

so poetry is vulnerable(at all times)to dispossession

and the jury of our poetic peers is OUT

Come to the door of South Austin Bar and Grill(formerly VINNYS

Closed.Shut.No answer from phone or email

Our Wednesday night poetry venue for half a decade

I salvaged a chair from their trash /it stands in our front yard.Nothing else remains

LITERA in Austin Chronicle no longer lists open mikes in print

(for this,you must go to their website)-but who knows this?

HIDEOUT theater hired by improvisors-who need quiet 

Poetry is seen as noise.We are OUT.

Hot Mamas Sundays change from 5-8pm to 3-6pm 

Summer hours mean after Hoop Church no one turns up.(I do)

Kick Butt leaves notes on tables-TO SAVE SUNDAY NIGHT POETRY,COME HUNGRY

Subtlety and poetry rarely eat together

Venues close .New ones open.CORONA CAFE Fridays 4-7pm

ENGLISH TEA ROOMS Saturdays 6-9pm

All depends upon...